~ ~ Patriots @ Jets ~ ~

Green Day : Patriots a 'must-win game'

-- Tom Brady inflicted a lot of pain Sunday night on the Ryan family.

Brady's miraculous, last-second victory over the New Orleans Saints came at the expense of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who looked like he was going to throw up on the Saints' sideline. Somewhere in New Jersey, his twin brother, Rex, probably was watching and felt the same way.

There goes the first-place showdown between the New England Patriots (5-1) and New York Jets (3-3). Nevetheless, the game is huge for the Jets, who can't afford to fall three games behind their AFC East nemesis."It's a division game. It's a must-win for us," defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson told ESPN New York 98.7 FM after the Jets' 19-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Jets have lost five straight to the Patriots, including a 13-10 loss in Week 2. They had their chances in that game, but it came apart in the fourth quarter, when Geno Smith threw interceptions. The Jets rattled Brady that night in Foxborough, as he struggled with a patchwork receiving corps. Obviously, the Patriots have developed some chemistry over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Jets' defense has produced only two takeaways in six games. That's ridiculously unacceptable."We've got to get better," linebacker Calvin Pace said. "It's tough at this point. We know what's coming to town next week ... the same guy on offense who has carved us up before."

“There are times,” Nick Mangold said, “when we look like a very, very good football team. “And times when … we don’t.”

This is what a work-in-progress talks like:

“There are two to three plays every game you’ve got to avoid,” Geno Smith said. “Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don’t.”

This is what a work-in-progress looks like:

Like a football team that can walk into the Georgia Dome and slap around a desperate team for most of three quarters, and then come back on that desperate team and break its heart at the final gun … only to walk into their own backyard and get slapped around by another desperate team for just about every second of four quarters six days later.

“We’re striving for consistency,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said after his team was stomped by the Steelers on Sunday, 19-6, at a MetLife Stadium that sure sounded like a North Jersey satellite campus of Heinz Field for most of the afternoon. “We just can’t seem to get there. Every week is a new challenge.”

For the Jets, yes. And for everyone else trying to figure them out, too, from their faithful followers to the football cognoscenti to the critics to the eternal optimists. Who are the Jets? Clearly they aren’t the 32nd-best team in the NFL. Just as clearly, they aren’t the Broncos. They fall somewhere in the vast chasm in between, and good luck guessing from week to week where.

“Every week is different,” Ryan said. “It’s up to us to string something together.”

This was a quintessential trap game for the Jets, featuring an opponent they almost never beat regardless of how things are going for either team (it’s now 4-19 all-time for the Jets against the Steelers, or a slightly higher percentage than the nail against the hammer), an opponent that was clearly going to take advantage of a rookie quarterback.

“They know what they’re doing,” Ryan said.

And the Jets?

Well, from the start on Sunday, from dawn’s early light, there was evidence aplenty of just how far the Jets have to go to shake off the shackles of low expectation. At 11 o’clock in the morning, a time when the greenest faithful assemble for the High Mass of tailgate, the parking lots were plenty full, all right.

But the green part was lacking.

It was Shrevie, in the movie “Diner,” who philosophically explained away his buddy Eddie’s decision to go with Colts colors for his wedding scheme.

“Could’ve been worse,” he said with a shrug. “Could’ve been black and gold. Steelers colors.”

Black and gold, everywhere. Now, understand: Stillers fans travel. Stillers fans find their way to London and Landover, Md., and everywhere else their Stillers play. There was always going to be a sizable Stillers presence yesterday, but it was clearly augmented by the fact that one group of fans believed one of these teams might be winless heading into this game …

And it wasn’t the Stillers. So they found plenty of more-than-willing Jets fans who weren’t expecting to see a 3-2 home team after five weeks.

Yet, it was the Steelers who came in at 0-for-September, and it was the Jets who were 3-2 after that terrific win in Atlanta last Monday night, but these were tickets that swapped hands long ago, before anyone would be forced to digest those through-the-looking-glass figures.

So the Jets played a home game before what sure sounded like an even split, which does make for a more pleasant viewing experience: every play makes somebody happy. Although it did tend to make the whole day sound like a neutral-site game. Call it a warm-up for Super Bowl XLVII.

Of course, it probably wasn’t what the Jets had in mind as a greeting after foiling the Falcons. But, then, what the Jets fans in the house got from them probably wasn’t what they had in mind, either: an early 3-0 lead, some early dominance from the defense, some smart play from the quarterback …

The Jets will notice a big hole in the heart of the Patriots defense when the division rivals meet Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Patriots will be without defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (torn Achilles) and linebacker Jerod Mayo (torn pectoral). The duo has combined for seven Pro Bowls and served as the backbone of what has become an increasingly stingy defense.
Both players are out for the season with injuries suffered since the Patriots’ 13-10 win over the Jets in Week 2. The Jets had 32 carries for 129 yards in that meeting, and likely will feature the ground game in the rematch against a depleted front seven that also could be missing defensive tackle Tommy Kelly.
“They lose a huge piece to their run defense because Vince Wilfork was huge,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “That’s what they lost. But he’s a good football player, too. They’ve got some guys in there that are battling, kind of a no-name type compared to Vince Wilfork, but they seem to be doing a decent job against the run.”
Another return for Cribbs
The Jets signed return specialist Josh Cribbs on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has a league-record 11 career touchdown returns on kickoffs and punts.
“I think with that name on the back (of his jersey, when) he stands back there, you’re going to be a little nervous because we’ve all been scorched by him in the past,” Ryan said. “There’s a knack for hitting those returns.”
The Patriots had interest in Cribbs in the offseason. He signed instead with the Raiders, but was cut in the preseason. There was concern about the condition of Cribbs’ knee. He is eager to prove he’s healthy.
“I’ll be ready to chase some balls and if they say, ‘Hey, he doesn’t have it anymore,’ I have to show them,” Cribbs said. “I want them to kick it out of bounds or try me. Kick it regular. See if I can still do it.”
Ex-Pat Salas catches on
The Jets signed wide receiver Greg Salas off the Eagles practice squad on Tuesday. Salas spent half of last season with the Patriots after they traded a late-round 2015 pick to the Rams to acquire him last September. He appeared in just one game before being signed to the Eagles practice squad upon his release.
Salas will not play Sunday, as he is dealing with a knee injury. Receiver Santonio Holmes (foot, hamstring) and defensive back Kyle Wilson (concussion) were also absent from yesterday’s practice.
Ryan said he is optimistic rookie cornerback Dee Milliner will return this week after missing three games with a hamstring injury

Summary: The Patriots have improved the past two weeks as they didn't have a penalty Oct. 6 against the Bengals and had six against the Saints (one offsetting, one declined). Mankins was called for two holding penalties against the Saints, but that wasn't reflective of an overall impressive performance from him. Specific to this week's opponent, the Jets, their place at the top of the NFL's penalty charts is notable and if it continues could be a factor in Sunday's game.

Summary: The Patriots have improved the past two weeks as they didn't have a penalty Oct. 6 against the Bengals and had six against the Saints (one offsetting, one declined). Mankins was called for two holding penalties against the Saints, but that wasn't reflective of an overall impressive performance from him. Specific to this week's opponent, the Jets, their place at the top of the NFL's penalty charts is notable and if it continues could be a factor in Sunday's game.

-- Due to injuries, the Jets will face a different Patriots defense in Week 7 than they did in Week 2. Jets center Nick Mangold won’t replay those epic grapples with Vince Wilfork for position in the middle of the field, since the Patriots defensive tackle is out with a torn Achilles. Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo was placed on injured reserve this week with a pectoral injury.

Will this make it easier to run the ball up the middle of the Patriots defense?

Will Jets RB Bilal Powell be able to have a productive day against a dinged-up Patriots defense?
“No, you now have to look at who’s in there and study a little bit more, especially when you look at Vince [Wilfork],” Mangold said. “Every game that I’ve played, Vince has always been there. You kind of rely on your experience, you watch the film, but you rely on your experience, and now there are guys in there who you don’t have experience with, so it’s going to be a challenge for us up front. It’s going to be a fun week.”

Jets coach Rex Ryan wouldn’t tip his hand, but he did say that he didn’t expect the Patriots to be exposed despite the loss of two key players.

“You look at them, they do a good job,” Ryan said. “They’ll still have those big guys inside. [Brandon] Spikes is a underrated linebacker. He’ll hit you. He’s like the old under-tackle, a big guy that can get in there and smash you. I’m sure [Dont’a] Hightower will probably be in there, or somebody will be in there, at inside backer. They’re pretty stout inside anyway, but obviously with Vince being out, that is a factor, without question.”

Jets offensive lineman Willie Colon put it more succinctly.

“Belichick is a genius, he’ll use what he has,” Colon said.

Running back Chris Ivory recently said he thought the Jets should run the ball more, and this just might be the week to do it. The Patriots may be vulnerable there, and the Jets running backs, particularly Bilal Powell, have found yards.

“Bilal is doing well, Chris Ivory is starting to get his wheels back,” Colon said. “It’s sad that we lost Mike [Goodson] because I think he was coming alive for us. I think having Josh Cribbs in the backfield helps us without a doubt.”

Powell was on the injury report on Thursday with a neck injury, although he participated fully.

If it’s a matter of gamesmanship, the Patriots may expect and have prepared for the run, so it may not be over-thinking to imagine Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg would deviate from the expected path.“We’re so confident in our backs and our offensive line, that we’re just going to run our game,” offensive lineman Austin Howard said.

10 bad-blood moments between Jets and Patriots
Jets-Patriots has turned into arguably the NFL’s most delicious rivalry of recent vintage — full of star quarterbacks, alpha coaches, playoff clashes, controversy and subterfuge. The AFC East foes renew hostilities Sunday at MetLife Stadium: Geno Smith’s first home date with Tom Brady and the Hoodie-masterminded Patriots D.

We take the chance to look back at some of the most memorable moments — there are many — from this generation of Jets-Patriots bad blood.

1
Tuna's splashy move to SwampModal Trigger
parcells
Only a few weeks after leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1997, Bill Parcells left New England to become the new head coach and general manager of the Jets. Just over one year later, Parcells pried his former running back — Curtis Martin — away from the Patriots as a free agent. Martin would become the fourth all-time leading rusher in NFL history while in Jets green.
2
Belichick bolts for BostonModal Trigger
resigns
The 10 letters than launched a rivalry: Bill Belichick resigns as “HC of the NYJ” one day after he is promoted following years as Parcells’ defensive coordinator. Belichick earns the forever loathing of NYers when he decamps for New England, bringing along Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and personnel man Scott Pioli to launch a dynasty.
3
First story of a man named Brady
Oh, Mo. Drew Bledsoe is entrenched as the Patriots quarterback until Week 2 of the 2001 season, when he is knocked out by a vicious fourth-quarter sideline hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. You know the rest: Tom Brady, a second-year clipboard-holder out of Michigan, takes over, the Patriots fall to 0-2, then proceed to win 14 of 17 en route to a Super Bowl crown that converts Brady to an instant NFL legend.

4
Storybook season ends with a thudModal Trigger
wilfork
In 2006, his first season after an acrimonious departure from the Patriots, head coach Eric Mangini led the Jets to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance … in New England. It wasn’t pretty. The Patriots destroyed the Jets, 37-16, in the wild-card round.
5
Roll the tape: Jets snare Patriots* in SpygateModal Trigger
Bill Belichick, Eric Mangini
The Patriots began their near-perfect season with a 38-14 win over the Jets in the Meadowlands, but a New England cameraman is caught illegally taping the Jets sideline, igniting the Spygate controversy. Mangini is believed to have tipped off the officials, who confiscated the equipment, resulting in Bill Belichick being fined a record $500,000 and the Patriots being fined $250,000 and stripped of a first-round draft pick. Oh, and New England was asterisked with “caught cheating” in The Post’s NFL standings.
6
No ring-kissing on Rex's watchModal Trigger
rexintroduced
Jets head coach Rex Ryan was new to town in 2009, but he immediately added more fire to the heated rivalry. “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s, you know, rings,” Ryan said on an interview on WFAN. “I came to win. Let’s just put it that way. So we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”
7
Belichick drops four-letter word (it's not Jets)Modal Trigger
Jets
Father-son bonding took an odd twist after a 37-16 Patriots win over the Jets in Week 10 of the 2011 season. Walking off the field at MetLife Stadium, Belichick threw his arm around his son, Stephen, and exclaimed: “Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league? S— my d—.”
8
Playoff shocker in Foxborough: "Can't wait!"
Five weeks after suffering a humiliating 45-3 loss in New England on Monday Night Football, the Jets returned to Gillette Stadium and shocked the top-seeded Patriots with a 28-21 win in the divisional playoff. While leaving the field, Jets linebacker Bart Scott let loose in an interview with ESPN: “Anybody can be beat. For all you nonbelievers … Disrespect us. Talk crap about the defense like we ain’t the third-best defense in the league. All we hear is about [the Patriots'] defense. They can’t stop a nose bleed.” Upon being reminded of the AFC Championship Game waiting in Pittsburgh, Scott unleashed his most famous moment as a Jet: “Can’t wait.”

9
Buttfumble, of course
The Buttfumble, the blooper to end all bloopers, was produced in a Jets-Patriots regular-season game on Thanksgiving Night 2012. Mark Sanchez’s stumbling, fumbling foray into lineman Brandon Moore’s backside on a busted play led to a Patriots TD that made it 21-0 on the way to 35-0 on the way to a 49-19 final, the most humiliating loss – factoring in Sanchez’s endlessly looped lowlight – in the recent history of the rivalry.

10
Rex tells Jets to rest legs (no, not that way)Modal Trigger
Screen shot 2013-10-16 at 7.12.58 PM.JPG
This is what it’s come to for the Jets in their uphill battle to unseat the bully Patriots: Ryan told his players, including newly-signed Josh Cribbs (pictured with wife), to tell their wives they had to skip domestic chores in the week leading up to Sunday’s game at the Meadowlands. He wasn’t being naughty, just desperate – as if the difference between the 3-3 Jets bagging their most important win of the year and dropping a seventh straight regular-season contest to the Pats might be skipping some lawn-mowing.

-- They say the third time is the charm. We definitely know it's not the second time for the New York Jets, at least not when it comes to their season series with the New England Patriots.

In each of the past four seasons (i.e. the Rex Ryan era), the Jets lost the second meeting between the two AFC East rivals. That's not a coincidence, it's a trend. When it was mentioned to Ryan, he tried to explain it by saying the Patriots benefitted from having the second game at home. In fact, that applies only to 2009 and 2010.

"Well, there goes that theory," he said, laughing.

Turning serious, Ryan said, "I think when you look at their team, their team historically, in that second half of the season, they don't lose much. Whatever it is, they've obviously done a better job than we have."

A much better job.

In each season, the second meeting was a blowout, including last year's 49-19 debacle on Thanksgiving night -- aka the Butt Fumble Game. In 2011, the Jets lost again in prime time, 37-16, a game best remembered for Ryan cursing out a fan at halftime -- and receiving a hefty fine from the NFL. It was a similar story in 2010, 45-3, except the Jets got the last laugh, stunning the Patriots in the playoffs.

The Patriots' ability to raise their level in the rematch is a testament to Bill Belichick and his coaching staff, their ability to make adjustments and react to the Jets' adjustments.

It certainly doesn't bode well for the Jets on Sunday.

ICYMI: Antonio Cromartie gave a brutally honest self-evaluation of his performance this season: Not good enough. ... In addition to returning kickoffs, newly-acquired Josh Cribbs may get a chance to return punts. And maybe, just maybe he'll be the personal protector on the punt team. ... Santonio Holmes won't play Sunday, as expected, and blamed the media for disrupting his rehab routine. ... Ryan has reached a crossroads in what he could be final season. Enough already, he needs to beat the Patriots.

Get ready for a GREEN OUT! Help us turn MetLife Stadium GREEN as we face our divisional rival! Our game against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. is presented by Toyota. The players will be in green jerseys and so should you! Wave your green rally towel and enjoy all things green around the stadium. This is what it means to be green!
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
■ Parking lots open at 8 a.m. (See Parking FAQ)
■ Will Call opens at 10 a.m. (See Will Call on Stadium Map)
■ Come help us welcome our players and coaches at the Jets Runway starting promptly at 10:30 a.m. The Jets Runway is in the main walkway between Lots F & G beginning at the flagpoles and ending at the MetLife Central Gate. See photo gallery from before the Steelers game here. Get there early for a chance to receive a special giveaway (supplies limited).
■ Stadium gates open at 11 a.m. and player warmups start about 12 p.m.
■ This week the players will be wearing green jerseys and white pants.
■ Sunday’s National Anthem will be sung by Kate Rockwell and Tommy Kessler from the five-time Tony Award-nominated hit musical Rock of Ages.
■ Our halftime will feature ESPN New York 98.7FM $500,000 Challenge.
ENHANCED PUBLIC SAFETY POLICY
A new carry-in bag policy has been instituted by the NFL for all teams in order to ensure a safe and secure game environment. Make sure you share this information with your family and friends attending the game! Fans may bring only the following style and size bag into the stadium:
■ Bags that are CLEAR plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” in size.
■ One-gallon clear plastic food storage bag.
■ Small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand (4.5” x 6.5”), with or without a handle or strap — this can be carried separately or within a clear bag.
Prohibited bags include, but are not limited to: all purses, bags or containers larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags, and camera bags; seat cushions are also prohibited. For more information visit nfl.com/allclear.
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON GAMEDAY
■ This game features the Alliance for Lupus Research supporting lupus awareness.
■ Check out the Toyota vehicle display and booth at the MetLife Gate plaza. Stop by to Green Out the all-new 2014 white Corolla. Take your #1 Pick photo at the Jets podium. Plus, enter to win a new 2014 Jets-wrapped Toyota Corolla at jetscorolla.com. Sweepstakes ends 12/1/2013. Toyota is the official vehicle of the New York Jets.
■ Come visit our parking lot bean bag toss setup underneath the flagpoles in the corner of Lot G and play a few games during your tailgate.
■ Support our new Jets Play 60 Sports Equipment Drive benefiting Up2Us by donating new and gently used athletic equipment every game between the Pepsi and MetLife Gates beginning at 11 a.m. Share your passion for sports and provide a great opportunity for a child to get exercise and Play 60! Up2Us is a nonprofit organization using sports to solve the critical challenges facing America’s children today. For accepted items visit newyorkjets.com/community.
■ The ESPN New York 98.7FM pregame radio show with Don La Greca and Greg Buttle will be broadcasting live starting at 11 a.m. from a mobile studio located between the MetLife and Verizon Gates.
■ Visit MetLife Central and enjoy our new Home Food Advantage signature items from Nonna Fusco’s (Italian specialty items), Liberty Sausage (new overstuffed sandwiches), Lucky’s (Asian noodles and dumplings) and Tacos Roqueros (fresh-made tacos and burritos).
■ NFL RedZone will be on in-stadium videoboards from gates open until pregame warmups.
■ Share your gameday Tweets and Instagrams using #nyjets or #gamedaygreenout for the chance to see yourself on the videoboards.
FREE AND SPECIAL OFFERS
■ All fans will receive a GREEN OUT rally towel upon entry into the stadium.
■ $2 bottled water is available with any entrée purchase at all of the following locations: Boardwalk Fryer, Bubba Burger, Papa John’s, Franks, Deli and Lobels.
■ Jets Shop Item of the Week: $10 off all Nike Tees, plus New Era 9 Forty Caps for Men and Women regularly $25, Sunday $20.
■ Home Food Advantage: Green draft beer at select locations. Plus $5 cans of beer are available at the Bud Light Beer Garden and portables located in Sections 106, 118, 133, 144, 201, 226, 305, 332, 330, 346 and MetLife Central.
■ Free Face Painting: Green Out and get your face painted for free! Visit us pregame from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. in Parking Lot L and the island outside the MetLife Gate. Plus, face painters will be available starting at 11 a.m. at the Gen Jets Kids Zone and in between the Bud Light and Pepsi corners on the 100, 200 and 300 level concourses.
■ Bud Light Beer Garden: Visit the Bud Light Beer Garden for $5 canned beers. Don’t miss the carne asada cooking competition. You may enter, exit, and re-enter the Beer Garden through the Bud Light Gate from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
■ MasterCard Cardholders: Use your New York Jets Debit MasterCard® to purchase one of two Value Meals and pay only $5, a $2 savings — hot dog, chips and a 12-oz. fountain drink available at all Franks stands, or turkey wrap, apple slices and 12-oz. fountain drink available at all Deli locations. Plus, use your New York Jets Debit MasterCard® from Chase at the Jets Shop Flagship Store and get 15% off.
JETS FLIGHT CREW CHEERLEADERS
Meet members of the Flight Crew Cheerleaders from 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. at the following locations:
■ Stop by the Jets Flagship Store to pick up the 2014 Jets Flight Crew Calendar and have it signed by members of the Flight Crew!
■ ESPN Radio tent
■ Bud Light plaza
■ Toyota vehicle display
■ Verizon plaza
■ Gen Jets Kids Zone
■ Toyota Coaches Club and Chase Club
JETS AVIATORS DRUMLINE
Don’t miss the Aviators Drumline at the following locations:
■ Jets Walk beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m.
■ Parking lots from 10:45–11:45 a.m.
■ MetLife Central plaza performance at 12 p.m.
■ On-field pregame performance and J-E-T-S Chant at 12:45 p.m.
■ In Section 209 throughout the game
■ MetLife Central Gate for 15 minutes postgame
JETS FEST ACTIVITIES ON THE PLAZA
■ Gen Jets Kids Zone: Calling all Jets kids! Come play on the inflatable rides, get your face painted for free, draw with sidewalk chalk, and get your free caricature drawing. Visit the Gen Jets Kids Zone area between the Verizon and SAP Gates. The Gen Jets Kids Zone closes 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
■ MetLife Central: Visit MetLife Central on the West Side of the stadium. Test your football skills on The Turf and high-five Snoopy! Stop by from 11:15–11:45 a.m. to meet and greet with Jets alumni. New this week: Check out the graffiti artist as he greens out a canvas pregame.
■ Pepsi: Enjoy free samples from Pepsi and support the Green Out at the Pepsi Gate.
■ Bud Light: Come listen to great music by Johnny Drama at the Bud Light stage. Don’t forget to stop by the Bud Light Beer Garden for $5 canned beers.
■ Verizon Corner: Stop by the Verizon Studio located on the 100 level in the Verizon Corner to learn how you can get closer to the game with the unrivaled speed of FiOS Quantium℠ and coverage of every NFL game on NFL Mobile. Get hands-on with the latest technology, enter to win official Jets gear, and Season Ticket Holders, don’t forget to bring your Verizon coupon to redeem for your free Jets/Verizon T-shirt.
■ Dunkin’ Donuts: Enjoy free Jets-themed coffee and donut samples from Dunkin’ Donuts on the inner-loop roadway. Spin the prize wheel for the chance to win $2 Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards.
■ Toyota: Check out the Toyota vehicle display and activation booth on the plaza. Stop by to Green Out the all-new 2014 white Corolla. Plus, take your #1 Pick photo at the Jets podium. Make sure to enter to win a brand new 2014 Jets-wrapped Corolla and Jets-signed item.
■ Lexus: Visit the Lexus vehicle display located outside of the Hertz West VIP Lobby. Guess how many footballs fill up the Lexus CT and you’ll have the chance to win Jets autographed merchandise. Once you have your guess, visit LexusSweeps.com/Guess. Winners will be notified after Jan. 1, 2014.
■ Papa John’s: Papa John’s will be giving out free coupons to fans at each gate postgame. The offer is valid for 50% off order after a Jets win and/or two large cheese pizzas for $12.99 (available online only).
■ Kingsford Grills: Make sure to stop by the Kingsford grilling competition in between the Verizon and MetLife gates from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. as contestants compete to win great Jets and Kingsford prizes.
■ Uber: Check out the Uber activation between the MetLife and Verizon Gates for great giveaways, games and prizes.
FANS FIRST
We are always on the lookout to keep your gameday safe and tackle bad behavior but we can use your help! To report an issue anonymously on gameday, text the word JETS to 78247 or call the Jets Guest Services Hotline at 201-559-1515.
JETS APP
Make your smart phone the command center for your Jets gameday experience. Download the Free Official Mobile App of the New York Jets to experience:
■ Live in-stadium video from multiple camera angles
■ Replays of every play seconds after it happens from live camera angles in-stadium
■ Live Red Zone Channel to keep up with the action from around the league
■ Real-time statistics and scores from the official NFL stats engine, head-to-head stats of the matchup, player stats, drive-by-drive stats, boxscore and out-of-town scores around the league
Plus, only at the stadium, your Jets App will have an interactive stadium map with searchable concessions stands, amenities and allows you to report any gameday issues.
NFL TICKET EXCHANGE
Need to sell tickets for a game? Buy or sell tickets at NFL Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster, the official resale marketplace of the NFL. Buyers get in and sellers get paid. Visit here now.

One might think we're ready to pay back the Patriots at home on Sunday afternoon. After all, their offense has sputtered as Tom Brady introduces himself to his young wideouts and tight ends on a weekly basis. And their defense has been decimated by injuries to key personnel.

"A defense has three levels," argues Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf, who'll call the game with Greg Gumbel for CBS. "They lost their best player on Level 1 in Vince Wilfork. Now they’ve lost their best guy in the second level in Jerod Mayo, and the best guy they have in the third level, Aqib Talib, is hurt. This is a Patriots team that is kind of limping into MetLife Stadium. I’m sure the Jets’ confidence is very high."

But the Jets had better not be cocky. They have their own injuries and absences to cope with, and these after all are the Patriots, winners of five in a row in the rivalry.

"As players, if you play this game long enough, you can respect the way they win," LB Calvin Pace said. "It’s not pretty all the time. You look out there and they have a bunch of guys you don’t know. But they find a way."

Here are 10 things to look for in Sunday's Jets-Pats game.

1. Sea of Green — We're undertaking what is believed to be the most extensive greening of our home stadium in franchise history. Head coach Rex Ryan encouraged all fans to wear as much green as possible and every ticket holder will get a "Jet Up! Green Out" towel upon entry. Remember to drink the green beer responsibly, enjoy the Green Day music appreciatively, and wave the towels only to provide maximum distraction to the visiting team.

2. Odd Man In — Like clockwork, in our odd-numbered games (all wins), Geno Smith has looked vet-sharp (56-of-87, 64.4%, 766 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs, 101.0 rating). In the even-numbered games (all losses), he's looked like the rookie he is (57-of-103, 55.3%, 704 yards, 1 TD, 7 INTs, 51.6 rating). Geno has shown remarkable resilience and improvement after the losses, and he's eager to "get it odd" against the Patriots again. "I think every single guy felt bitter after that loss, on the road that Thursday night," he said. "We're anxious to have another opportunity to try and get a victory for the organization."

3. Corner Health — Ryan said other than WRs Santonio Holmes and Greg Salas, all players practiced Friday and it's "all hands on deck" Sunday. That means No. 27, top draft pick Dee Milliner (hamstring), will be available for the first time in four games. "Dee's been in big spots before, so that's not new to him," Ryan said. "I know he wants to get back out on the field. We'll see how he is. I'm confident in the young man." Also, CB Kyle Wilson has passed all the tests and will be available after last week's concussion vs. Pittsburgh.

4. Gronk Sighting — Rumors are that TE Rob Gronkowski will make his long-awaited season debut after offseason back and forearm surgeries. Bill Belichick wouldn't confirm anything this morning, but "Gronk" wore the scout team's black jersey last week impersonating Saints TE Jimmy Graham for the Pats' first defense (which then held Graham catchless), and he's listed as questionable for the Jets in this afternoon's report. In his five games against us, he's had 20 catches for 248 yards (12.4-yard avg.) and four TDs.

JETS-PATRIOTS STATISTICS

NYJ

NE

Record

3-3

5-1

Points Scored/Game

17.3

20.8

Points Allowed/Game

22.5

16.2

First Downs Gained/Game

17.7

19.7

First Downs Allowed/Game

16.3

19.2

Yards Gained/Game

336.7

348.8

Yards Allowed/Game

303.8

347.7

Turnover Margin

–11

+5

5. Mangold's New Dance Partners — C Nick Mangold has played 17 games as a pro against New England since he arrived in 2006. Each game he's hooked up with Vince Wilfork. Now that Vince is on IR, what will Mangold do? "You watch the film, but you rely on your experience," he said, "and now there are guys in there who you don’t have experience with, so it’s going to be a challenge for us up front." Rookies Joe Vellano and Chris Jones, both 300-pounders, have rotated in for Wilfork, listed at 325 (yeah, right), while DT Tommy Kelly also plays NT in the Pats' 3-man fronts.

6. Jets on Edge — LDE Rob Ninkovich has been a rushing and coverage thorn in our side for several years. RDE Chandler Jones got his first two sacks against the Jets on back-to-back second-quarter pass plays in Game 2. Geno has been sacked an average of 3.5 times a game. Everyone involved in pass protection but especially LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson and RT Austin Howard will need to bring their A-games when Smith drops back to pass.

7. Look for the Pick — We don't want to be pessimistic, but the trends aren't favorable that we'll have an interception in this game. We have just one, by Dawan Landry, the fewest after six games in a season in franchise history. And Brady has thrown 164 passes since his last interception by a Jet, Antonio Cromartie at New England in 2011. So if you see an INT by Cro, or David Harris (who picked off TB in the 2010 playoffs), or by any other Jet, savor it and look for it again and again, on the videoboards and later on SportsCenter. It will be a rarity.

8. Fifteen-Minute Men — Ryan made a point about New England that's been made many times but bears repeating. "You get behind this football team as we did [in Week 2] and try to rally back — it's about as tough as it is. They close out games extremely well. Hopefully we're not in that situation." The rivalry's track record underscores this observation: Since 2002, the team that leads after three quarters always wins the game. The Pats have won 19 of these meetings, the Jets six. Look for the team that's up after 45 minutes to prevail.

9. Inspiration from 80 — The last Jets team that violated that end-of-third-quarter rule was the 2000 squad, which roared from a 19-7 fourth-quarter deficit to a 20-19 MNF triumph, thanks to two late TD catches by Wayne Chrebet. Who better to be on hand Sunday as the Jets' "pilot" than No. 80? Chrebet will lead the Green & White on the pregame walk along the Jets Runway into the stadium and serve as honorary captain for the coin toss and other inspiring duties.

10. The Cribbs Factor — The new No. 16 in green, Josh Cribbs, was asked if he still has his speed. "Oh, yeah. I'm going to get the job done," he replied. "I'm not going to get walked down." Cribbs is ready to go at WR and on punt returns if, say, Jeremy Kerley gets a large dose of offense, but Job One appears to be taking over KO returns from Clyde Gates and Mike Goodson, both of whom went on IR this week. Cribbs' standings in NFL history: 22nd in PR average (11.0), 31st in KOR average (25.9), tied for 1st in KOR touchdowns (8), 5th in all kick-return TDs (11). Said Ellis Lankster of the man he'll block for on returns, "He's still the same. He hasn't lost anything."

Summary: The Patriots have improved the past two weeks as they didn't have a penalty Oct. 6 against the Bengals and had six against the Saints (one offsetting, one declined). Mankins was called for two holding penalties against the Saints, but that wasn't reflective of an overall impressive performance from him. Specific to this week's opponent, the Jets, their place at the top of the NFL's penalty charts is notable and if it continues could be a factor in Sunday's game.

Speaking of penalties, did anyone else notice the sneaky little move that the Seattle DBs were getting away with until the game was out of reach last night? On any pass where a defender was right behind the WR and the ball was thrown accurately, all they would do was grab the elbow of the receivers forward arm so he couldn't reach up and catch even a perfectly thrown ball. You don't often see a WR catch a pass backhanded with just the back hand. That's sure as hell more of a cheat than taping changeable coaches signals from the wrong spot on the field.

10 bad-blood moments between Jets and Patriots
Jets-Patriots has turned into arguably the NFL’s most delicious rivalry of recent vintage — full of star quarterbacks, alpha coaches, playoff clashes, controversy and subterfuge. The AFC East foes renew hostilities Sunday at MetLife Stadium: Geno Smith’s first home date with Tom Brady and the Hoodie-masterminded Patriots D.

We take the chance to look back at some of the most memorable moments — there are many — from this generation of Jets-Patriots bad blood.

1
Tuna's splashy move to SwampModal Trigger
parcells
Only a few weeks after leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1997, Bill Parcells left New England to become the new head coach and general manager of the Jets. Just over one year later, Parcells pried his former running back — Curtis Martin — away from the Patriots as a free agent. Martin would become the fourth all-time leading rusher in NFL history while in Jets green.
2
Belichick bolts for BostonModal Trigger
resigns
The 10 letters than launched a rivalry: Bill Belichick resigns as “HC of the NYJ” one day after he is promoted following years as Parcells’ defensive coordinator. Belichick earns the forever loathing of NYers when he decamps for New England, bringing along Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennel and personnel man Scott Pioli to launch a dynasty.
3
First story of a man named Brady
Oh, Mo. Drew Bledsoe is entrenched as the Patriots quarterback until Week 2 of the 2001 season, when he is knocked out by a vicious fourth-quarter sideline hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. You know the rest: Tom Brady, a second-year clipboard-holder out of Michigan, takes over, the Patriots fall to 0-2, then proceed to win 14 of 17 en route to a Super Bowl crown that converts Brady to an instant NFL legend.

4
Storybook season ends with a thudModal Trigger
wilfork
In 2006, his first season after an acrimonious departure from the Patriots, head coach Eric Mangini led the Jets to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance … in New England. It wasn’t pretty. The Patriots destroyed the Jets, 37-16, in the wild-card round.
5
Roll the tape: Jets snare Patriots* in SpygateModal Trigger
Bill Belichick, Eric Mangini
The Patriots began their near-perfect season with a 38-14 win over the Jets in the Meadowlands, but a New England cameraman is caught illegally taping the Jets sideline, igniting the Spygate controversy. Mangini is believed to have tipped off the officials, who confiscated the equipment, resulting in Bill Belichick being fined a record $500,000 and the Patriots being fined $250,000 and stripped of a first-round draft pick. Oh, and New England was asterisked with “caught cheating” in The Post’s NFL standings.
6
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Jets head coach Rex Ryan was new to town in 2009, but he immediately added more fire to the heated rivalry. “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s, you know, rings,” Ryan said on an interview on WFAN. “I came to win. Let’s just put it that way. So we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”
7
Belichick drops four-letter word (it's not Jets)Modal Trigger
Jets
Father-son bonding took an odd twist after a 37-16 Patriots win over the Jets in Week 10 of the 2011 season. Walking off the field at MetLife Stadium, Belichick threw his arm around his son, Stephen, and exclaimed: “Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league? S— my d—.”
8
Playoff shocker in Foxborough: "Can't wait!"
Five weeks after suffering a humiliating 45-3 loss in New England on Monday Night Football, the Jets returned to Gillette Stadium and shocked the top-seeded Patriots with a 28-21 win in the divisional playoff. While leaving the field, Jets linebacker Bart Scott let loose in an interview with ESPN: “Anybody can be beat. For all you nonbelievers … Disrespect us. Talk crap about the defense like we ain’t the third-best defense in the league. All we hear is about [the Patriots'] defense. They can’t stop a nose bleed.” Upon being reminded of the AFC Championship Game waiting in Pittsburgh, Scott unleashed his most famous moment as a Jet: “Can’t wait.”

9
Buttfumble, of course
The Buttfumble, the blooper to end all bloopers, was produced in a Jets-Patriots regular-season game on Thanksgiving Night 2012. Mark Sanchez’s stumbling, fumbling foray into lineman Brandon Moore’s backside on a busted play led to a Patriots TD that made it 21-0 on the way to 35-0 on the way to a 49-19 final, the most humiliating loss – factoring in Sanchez’s endlessly looped lowlight – in the recent history of the rivalry.

10
Rex tells Jets to rest legs (no, not that way)Modal Trigger
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This is what it’s come to for the Jets in their uphill battle to unseat the bully Patriots: Ryan told his players, including newly-signed Josh Cribbs (pictured with wife), to tell their wives they had to skip domestic chores in the week leading up to Sunday’s game at the Meadowlands. He wasn’t being naughty, just desperate – as if the difference between the 3-3 Jets bagging their most important win of the year and dropping a seventh straight regular-season contest to the Pats might be skipping some lawn-mowing.

1. Tuna S**t never won squat with or without Curtis Martin, thanks mostly to his lame duck approach to Desmond Howard in the SB. Meanwhile, the Pats have done great without either one of them.

2. Belichick saw that he was being made a pawn in Tuna's eventual losing battle with Bob Kraft. Pats fans were the lucky recipients of his talents.

3. Another lame attempt to take some credit for releasing Tom Brady from the shadows, but everything else says it was obvious which QB was better. The numbers have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt. It was only a matter of time before he took over.

4. Boy did Mangini burn the bridge down when he left. Even he knows it will be a long time (if ever) before he's forgiven for the way he left.

5. Oh well, if the asterjerks from the Post say it then it must be true. I've looked at those Lombardis countless times, and I still can't see a mark on them.

6. Rex Ryan is an unprofessional, loud mouthed jerk, and some of his players (like CroDaddy) follow right along. They should name one of those really stupid penalties after Ryan.

7 At least Belichick tries to make his statements away from the cameras. My favorite was after Tom Jackson accused Belichick of being hated by his players, in spite of not having any proof, and after the Pats won the SB that year Jackson came up to congratulate Belichick. He gave him an FU and moved right along.

8. I blame that loss on the way the Pats handled themselves after crushing the Jets the previous game. I especially didn't like the mocking of the Jet celebration. I don't like that kind of crap from any team, and that includes the Pats.

9. The most amazing 55 seconds of football that I've ever seen. It gave me new meaning for the term A New York Minute. Wow!~ As Rex Ryan said, "undfreakinbelievable"

10. Rex is irrelevant again. He had a chance in the beginning with the players left over from the other regime, but he's pretty much a career DC from now on. Unless, the Jets sign him to a long term deal.

1. Tuna S**t never won squat with or without Curtis Martin, thanks mostly to his lame duck approach to Desmond Howard in the SB. Meanwhile, the Pats have done great without either one of them.

2. Belichick saw that he was being made a pawn in Tuna's eventual losing battle with Bob Kraft. Pats fans were the lucky recipients of his talents.

3. Another lame attempt to take some credit for releasing Tom Brady from the shadows, but everything else says it was obvious which QB was better. The numbers have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt. It was only a matter of time before he took over.

4. Boy did Mangini burn the bridge down when he left. Even he knows it will be a long time (if ever) before he's forgiven for the way he left.

5. Oh well, if the asterjerks from the Post say it then it must be true. I've looked at those Lombardis countless times, and I still can't see a mark on them.

6. Rex Ryan is an unprofessional, loud mouthed jerk, and some of his players (like CroDaddy) follow right along. They should name one of those really stupid penalties after Ryan.

7 At least Belichick tries to make his statements away from the cameras. My favorite was after Tom Jackson accused Belichick of being hated by his players, in spite of not having any proof, and after the Pats won the SB that year Jackson came up to congratulate Belichick. He gave him an FU and moved right along.

8. I blame that loss on the way the Pats handled themselves after crushing the Jets the previous game. I especially didn't like the mocking of the Jet celebration. I don't like that kind of crap from any team, and that includes the Pats.

9. The most amazing 55 seconds of football that I've ever seen. It gave me new meaning for the term A New York Minute. Wow!~ As Rex Ryan said, "undfreakinbelievable"

10. Rex is irrelevant again. He had a chance in the beginning with the players left over from the other regime, but he's pretty much a career DC from now on. Unless, the Jets sign him to a long term deal.

Youre's hurt more not just because they are mostly opinions, but also because they are correct!!

Rex Ryan wanted his players so focused and well-rested for the New England Patriots that he told them to skip household chores for a week. On Sunday, we'll find out if the couch-potato approach worked.

It would help if they could hold on to the ball.

That has been the biggest difference between the New York Jets and Patriots over the last few years -- ball security. During their current five-game losing streak to the Patriots, the Jets are minus-11 in turnover margin. They give it away easier than day-old cheesecake at a bake sale. Can they reverse the trend? Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium, where the Patriots (5-1) will try to win their 13th straight AFC East game. The Jets (3-3) need a win to stay in the thick of the division race.

What to watch for:

Geno Smith had a rough first game against the Patriots, going 15-for-35 passing with three picks.

1. A second look for Geno: Rookie QB Geno Smith should fare better this time around. Then again, it can't get worse than the first meeting in Week 2, when he threw three interceptions in the final 11 plays. His familiarity with the Patriots, coupled with a full week to prepare (Round 1 was on a Thursday), is bound to help. It's all about game management. Smith won't see a lot of pressure schemes from Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who will test the kid's patience by forcing him to dink and dunk. The Patriots may take a more conservative approach than usual if CB Aqib Talib (hip) doesn't play. Statistically, there's a big drop-off when he's off the field. Talib intercepted Smith twice in the first game.

2. Hey, Marty: Run!: Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg tried to establish a ground game last week, but he gave up after a quarter. This time, he needs to stick with it. The Patriots have gaping -- repeat, gaping -- holes in their front seven with DT Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo done for the season. DT Tommy Kelly also could miss the game, meaning they will start two unheralded rookies at defensive tackle -- Joe Vellano, an undrafted free agent, and Chris Jones, cut by two other teams. If C Nick Mangold and RG Willie Colon don't control the point of attack, something is wrong. Of course, this will require a commitment from the pass-happy Mornhinweg. The Jets will miss Mike Goodson's outside speed, but they won't need it if Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory can hammer away inside the tackles.

3. Frustrating Brady isn't enough: Can anybody remember the last time the Jets intercepted Tom Brady? It was Oct. 9, 2011: CB Antonio Cromartie picked Brady on the final play of the first half. Since then, he has gone 163 passes against the Jets without an interception. That's ridiculous. In Week 2, the Jets proved a dominant effort versus Brady doesn't mean much without turnovers. They held the Patriots to nine first downs, yet they couldn't create any takeaways and lost, 13-10. The Jets need a big day from their corners, especially Cromartie, who admitted he's having only a "C year." Cro & Co. need to be ready for a lot of quick screens, which puts a premium on tackling. Brady's receiving corps has 16 drops, the third-highest total in the league.

4. Dealing with Gronk: This changes things. Assuming TE Rob Gronkowski plays -- he was cleared Friday by doctors -- the Patriots now have a major weapon at their disposal, especially in the red zone. Their red zone efficiency sagged without the 6-foot-7 Gronk, Brady's favorite target. Since 2010, his completion percentage to Gronkowski is 72.2, about 10 percent higher than to other receivers, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In his last two games against the Jets, Gronkowski caught 14 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. If the Jets show as much respect to him as they did to Tony Gonzalez two weeks ago, you can expect double-vice coverage in the red zone. S Jaiquawn Jarrett also was heavily involved in the Gonzalez plan. Would the Jets put Cromartie on Gronk in certain situations? Just a thought.

5. Feed the green beast: The Jets, trying to establish a true home-field advantage, want their fans to be loud and green. Ryan asked fans to wear green, creating a "Green Out" effect. OK, fine, but it would help to grab the attention of the wine-sipping, shrimp-eating masses if they jumped to an early lead. The Jets have led for only 52 minutes in six games, half of which came in the win over the Buffalo Bills. A dynamic, game-changing play in the first quarter would help immensely. Maybe this is where Josh Cribbs becomes a factor. Maybe he can add some sizzle to the special teams. A big play on defense would help, too, but the Jets are allergic to takeaways. In fact, they've gone 207 passes without an interception. They can't be taken seriously as a top-tier defense unless they make some plays.

Following Rex Ryan's advice, I skipped household chores -- but not the Sunday notes:

1. Hate to say it: Guard Willie Colon has been chirping about his hatred for the New England Patriots since the beginning to the season. Tom Brady took a pass when asked to comment on Colon’s latest “I-hate-them” remark, saying, “Not much fazes me with Jets-Patriots at this point, or Yankees-Red Sox.”

Brady took the high road, but let us not forget that Mr. Squeaky Clean used the ‘H’ word long before Colon. In August 2010, he was asked if he was watching the HBO series “Hard Knocks,” which featured the Jets that summer.

“Honestly, I haven’t turned it on. I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show," Brady said. "I’m sure it’s great TV. I’m glad people are liking it. But that’s just something that I have no interest in watching. I’d love to say a lot of mean things, but I’d rather not do that, either.”

Sure, easy to say when you’re not playing them that week.

Cromartie2. Contract push: You have to admire Antonio Cromartie for his brutally honest self-evaluation, admitting he’s not playing close to a Pro Bowl level. If he doesn’t pick up his play, it could make for an interesting decision in the offseason.

Cromartie has a $14.98 million cap charge in 2014, the final year of his contract. He renegotiated his deal last March, pushing some money into ’14. That’s a big number to carry, especially with a $5 million roster bonus due in March. I can’t see Cromartie taking a pay cut, so they’d have to extend the deal or part ways.

3. QB carousel set to spin again: The Jets have to make a decision by Monday on David Garrard, whose two-game roster exemption will expire. It’s hard to imagine them keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, so they’ll either say goodbye to Garrard or release Brady Quinn. I understand the value in having an experienced mentor for Geno Smith, but the decision should be based on this: Who would they rather have in the game, Quinn or Garrard? I’d take Quinn. If they value Garrard’s intangibles that much, the Jets should make him a coach.

4. Try the combo platter: The Jets have used 122 unique lineups on offense, the fourth-highest total in the league. That’s a high number, considering they’ve had relative stability on the line. Some of it's due to injuries at receiver and tight end, but most of it can be attributed to Marty Mornhinweg’s penchant for using so many different personnel packages.

5. A craving for brownies: The addition of KR Josh Cribbs means the Jets have three former members of the 2008 Cleveland Browns; the others are Quinn and TE Kellen Winslow. They also had Braylon Edwards as recently as training camp. Previously, they had Brodney Pool. That’s a lot of players from a 4-12 team.

Smith6. The good, the bad, the ugly: Here are two statistics that illustrates Smith’s season: His combined total of interceptions (13) and sacks (21) is the highest in the league, one greater than Eli Manning (33). But at the same time, Smith has demonstrated the ability to hurt defenses with his long passes. He has a 50 percent completion rate on throws of at least 20 yards, tied for third best in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

7. Solace for Salas: Eyebrows were raised when the Jets signed an injured wide receiver, Greg Salas, from the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. Ryan said they knew about the knee ailment, which he called a two-week injury. The Jets liked Salas because of his strong preseason -- seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. They were able to pry him away when the Eagles opted to promote B.J. Cunningham over Salas last Monday. The Jets are stuck with him for three weeks. By rule, a player is guaranteed three weekly checks when he leaves a practice squad to sign on another team’s 53-man roster.

8. What a business: Former Stony Brook (N.Y.) star Miguel Maysonet, added last week to the practice squad, already has experienced the cut-throat side to the NFL. Nearly 10 months after signing his first contract, the running back already has been cut by four different teams -- Eagles, Browns, Indianapolis Colts (practice squad) and San Diego Chargers (practice squad). He’d like to last at least 10 days with the Jets because he didn’t make it past seven in his last two stops.“I had no idea it would be like this at all, being cut left and right, moving around,” he said. “It kind of sucks, but it’s also humbled me in a way. It’s hard to start all over every single time. Things don’t come easy, but if you love the game, you have to work through it. I’m still chasing the dream."

9. Let's talk sex -- or not: I spoke to two players who stated emphatically that Ryan wasn’t referring to abstinence when he delivered his “rest-the-legs, no-household-chores” speech. But it still made for a comical, after-hours scene in the press room, Ryan trying to clarify the situation with reporters.

10. St. Peyton: The big story in the NFL is Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis, where he was, still is and always will be an iconic figure. During his heyday with the Colts, he reportedly dined with friends after every home game in a private room at the city’s famed St. Elmo’s Steakhouse. But it wasn’t always red-carpet treatment. A few hours after a Jets-Colts game (I’m guessing it was 1998, his rookie year), I saw Manning and some family members peering into the window of a TGI Fridays to see if it still was serving. The streets were desolate, except for the Mannings and a few hungry New York sports writers. He has come a long way. The sports writers, not so much.